Flesh is Weak

Flesh and bone arise further.

The moment I was inside our room, I made a computer to talk to Conner and Jeanne. I immediately saw what Kuroka had done for the Noosphere. I shake my head in amusement and a bit of dismay. She had set up a YouTube for devils and had, of course, called it DevilTube. There was a channel of her own called the Sexy Nekoshou, and it was going to be where she would start streaming videos for her MLG Halo games. As I looked at this, I saw that Kuroka is amazing with computer programming, and quickly found the chat channels for the Legio on our website on the back end.

Of course, there was a meme channel, and after a quick peek inside, I found it was just Kuroka and Conner being funny people with an occasional meme from Kalawarna. I found the chat room for communication and immediately made a chat handle before typing.

Magos Dominus. "Conner. Jeanne."

There was a second of silence before the dreaded words appeared. Several people are typing.

Knight Fan J. "Boss that you?"

Conner's handle followed that a second later, and I snorted in amusement.

Best Halo Player Ever. "I think that's him, Jeanne."

I started typing.

Magos Dominus. "It is indeed me. I have a high-priority mission that needs to be done when possible."

The two started typing, and surprisingly, Kalawarna asked with her handle, eliciting another snort of amusement.

The Actual Best Halo Player Ever. "What's the mission, sir?"

I started fast typing.

Magos Dominus. "I need a hero descendant with gear tracked down. They contain something that is incredibly dangerous, and I would like them contained as fast as possible."

The trio started typing, and I was surprised by the next person who entered the chat.

The Holy Maiden. "Finally found him. I was hoping to speak with you about my medical equipment for my clinic."

I sweat dropped and was about to type something when someone else did.

Actual Best Halo Player. "After this, Madam Nurse. This gear user. Do you have anything more specific to share with us?"

Magos Dominus. "I can only narrow it down to Europe and that they are a twice critical user. Nothing else."

Knight Fan J. "I'll help find them. I'm done with scouting bases and need something to do. We hero descendants or reincarnations know when we see another hero type. It might be a good practice mission for some of our new people."

Magos Dominus. "We have new people already?"

Actual Best Halo Player. "Yes, we do. Five exorcists and a fallen who deserted yesterday. I contacted them via our spy bots, and they have set up a base in Spain. I was going to ask you for more equipment today, but Roka went silent a few hours ago. I'll contact them again and ask them to help look for this person with Jeanne. When can we and Madam Nurse get our equipment?"

Magos Dominus. "I will be free in a bit. Speaking of medical stuff, Asia, I would like your help with something tomorrow morning. Are you free?"

The Holy Maiden. "I am indeed free tomorrow morning. This medical procedure. What will it include?"

Magos Dominus. " :). You will know when you show up tomorrow. I'll get the equipment to you guys soon. Thank you for helping with this. As for our new people who join on the new base, I'll speak to their cell head about further orders."

The Holy Maiden. "You will explain when you get here or else."

Actually the Best Halo Player. "I will inform the group head of that. It's a female exorcist in charge there and she brought her boyfriend in the fallen along with their comrades. They are from one of the cadres against Kokabiel. They are very worried that the Great War will kick back on nuclear hot. They said many others are looking for a way out from the cadres on Azazel's side. The vote scared everyone on that side worse than we thought, and the general opinion is that the next session will be a victory for him. They said that people are looking for any excuse to desert their posts. We will try to recruit heavily from the possible deserters. This belief of it being a loss is so certain that Azazel apparently lost his personal wet works team."

Oh, fucking shit! We need to find where they went! Maybe Tobio will help Suzaku? She had been interested in him in the base reality and planned to marry him eventually. I worry about that now, as Conner typed out.

The Best Halo Player. "They all said they won't work for him according to the fallen with the exorcists. Azazel understood why and I think he is trying to get people away from Kokabeil for a possible future victory on the council. The fallen said that Kokabiel's close ally is getting another meeting of the council going soonish."

Our situation is going to get worse, and I prepared three plans to get Akeno and her dad talking again. I was about to type something when the light in the closet suddenly turned on. Standing in the doorway was Raynare in a blue casual dress, and she beamed at seeing me there. I blinked in surprise at her. We stared at each other, and I finally asked, dumbfounded.

"You look beautiful, Ray, but how l did you get in my room? I locked the door."

Raynare blushed, and then finger poked before answering the question.

"I followed a white-haired man to a wall, and when he pushed it a specific way, it came open. I can now be with my Great King more! No locks shall stop the sneakiest pawn!"

Wait a minute. I type brb into the chat room and stand up from the closet floor. Raynare skipped out of the doorway, and I saw the breach. A retractable wall on hinges gives a clear view into Raynare's room as I see the horde of stuffed animals arranged by species on her shelves. The pieces fall into place. That's cunning and gave Heniya and Diehauser a sneaky meet-up way. I was so busy thinking that Raynare had taken my hand and led me back to the closet. Once there, she sat on my lap, buried her head into my neck, and smiled wildly. Her sighing happily broke me from thinking and snapped me back to reality. Seeing Raynare sitting brought a solution to a problem.

"Ray, you met a man with dog gear and an ice witch, yes?"

Raynare nodded her head fast.

"Yes! They were so nice and told me many tales of their adventures! Why does my Great King want to know about them?"

I looked at the computer and then Raynare.

"They too deserted Grigori. I want to know where they went. You think that you could eventually find them?"

Raynare considers before she nods her head.

"I can they were unique, and I remember them."

With a nod of yes, Raynare put on her game face then asked in a small voice.

"Will my Great King accept me fully? The one out of place and unsure what it is to do this?"

I half smile before nodding.

"We will learn it together, Ray. Even if we don't work out, I promise to be there for you."

Raynare was the happiest I have ever seen her. That smile was so wide and beautiful that I felt something there. I squeeze her right hand in support. Raynare squeezes back and then blushes badly before kissing me on the cheek. I accept that, and the two of us share a moment. Raynare looked at my cogitator, and her head tilted in question. I rolled my eyes and made her a cogitator.

Sneakiest Pawn. "HI KALA I'M USING A COGY THINGY! HI NICE NURSE LADY!"

The chat was stunned stupid.

The Holy Maiden. "Hello, sneakiest pawn. I'm guessing you have never used a computer before. You don't have to capitalize everything."

Asia is so nice. Raynare was blinking reading that, and I clicked off her caps lock before responding.

Magos Dominus. "Yes, she has not used one before. I fixed it and will be teaching her. However, she is right to call them cogitators as these are significantly more advanced than regular computers. I'll be over in a bit for your equipment soon."

The Sneakiest Pawn. My Great King seduced me, nurse lady!"

Everyone is again stunned stupid by that which amused me as I'm closing the cogitator. I kissed Ray's cheek there before correcting that.

"My pawn has been the one doing the seducing Ray. Let's find Ravel and the others. I have equipment I need to make, and I need to find out if Kiba is here today."

I slowly get off the floor, and Raynare takes my hand again. The two of us go through the secret door, closing it moving to find the others.

We found Kuroka, Rias, and Ravel giggling with an unexpected person in the library. Murayama was teasing Rias about something, and Rias was red with embarrassment. However, her smile and the counter tease she gave Murayama was something to see. The quartet was smiling together, plotting something, and Raynare was just as lost as I was. I try to break the evil of the four of them.

"Ria, is Kiba here?"

That only slightly broke the group as Rias got up from the four and skipped over to us, which immediately put me on guard as she was accenting something of hers. Rias stopped in front of us, and she smiled widely at me.

"He is here, yes. He should be in the kitchen. Ray, we need you for something!"

Rias grabbed Raynare's hand and pulled a bewildered Raynare towards the others and I sweat drop seeing their faces. They all hold something that while not Xenovia bad is still not good. Raynare was confused before she proudly remembered her victory and proclaimed to them that. I just let them do the thing and go to find the pretty boy.

The pretty boy was chatting happily with Thoron about something, and the two seemed good friends. I noticed Maéva was cooking while Neri was watching a modern stove in fascination. I inched my way to Kiba, and he looked towards me and he smiled at me in greetings.

"Hey, Gregor. What's up?"

I looked at Kiba properly. He was dressed in a grey shirt and black pants. I asked Kiba while keeping my eyes alert.

"Your charity Kiba. What sort of stuff does it do besides the soup kitchen?"

That got a shrug.

"I hand out blankets for the homeless in the winter and have also tried to do a few other things to help where possible. Why the curiosity?"

I caught sight of blue hair, looking to see the person. It was Hetvia daydreaming. Kiba immediately put it together. He made a sympathetic face and got out of his chair. He came around the table and put a hand on my shoulder.

"You got it, too. It must be our new rook I'm sorry."

I smiled at Hetvia before returning to look at Kiba.

"Yeah, she has me in her sights. I was asking because we picked up a healer who is very interested in doing charity work, and I thought she could work with you on that. I was just about to meet her. If you want to join?"

Kiba blinked in surprise while Hetvia smiled in understanding before she prepared to go back to work on Mr Sparkles. Kiba spoke with his shock still present.

"I don't have help with medical stuff. I'll meet them."

That's a relief, and Thoron chuckles before going off to help Hetvia. Despite not being interested in the field, he asked his little sister about robotics. Hetvia was loudly boasting that she wanted to eventually add jetpacks to Mr. Cuddles, Mr. Sparkles, and her future robots. I sweat-dropped, imagining robots flying around in a Superman pose, beating up fallen.

I guide Kiba towards the basement. I move faster when I see the horn dog and another watching me from the stairs. It's Xenovia and Shirone. They both sighed dreamily at my retreating form. Kiba pats my back in sympathy, and he let loose his British self fully.

"It's funny, innit. That you got both our rooks after you. I do have a question of my own for you about your friend. What is her favorite thing? Besides the obvious."

I blinked and then answered Kiba as we hit the foot of the stairs.

"She is a big fan of a poet named Abo Tazu. He's not well known and isn't that either. Why are you going to try talking to her that way?"

Kiba considered his answer carefully before he and I stopped at the teleporter door.

"I would like to get to know her. Despite our start, she has… intrigued me. I don't know how I would try to approach her."

Brave man, Kiba. We started small talk about Issari as we stepped through the teleporter.

When we hit the other end in the apartment building we were in the basement and next to the stairs we were immediately greeted by Asia and Jeanne. Asia was still in her nurse get up, and Jeanne was in sweats and a black T-shirt with a Gundam logo. Asia was not amused, and she was like Sona as her eyes promised pain on me unless I explained. Jeanne rolled her blue eyes and welcomed us in.

"Hey, boss don't mind, Madam Nurse. She's been stewing since you asked for her help."

Asia has little patience for bullshit.

"What is this procedure? I'm sorry for the rudeness, but I have made it a personal mission not to be treated like I was before my excommunication. I want to know what I'd be doing."

Kiba understood while I sighed.

"I'm planning to make my bones denser. The second part of the operation will allow me to build up more muscle potential than a normal human. I'd like it if you could perhaps dampen some of the pain."

Asia dropped her angry look for a second before it returned after realizing what I wanted. Kiba looked at me with understanding as a mechanist. Jeanne was still not sure of the depth, but she understood why. She voiced that thought.

"For them?"

I nod.

"For them. The gear user I am asking you to find contains one of them in the vampires."

The elusive nature of that weirds out Asia and Kiba while Jeanne knows what a C'tan is.

"I will make sure we find this person. I get why now. Can I tell Kala and Conner bits?"

I quickly made a decision.

"You may tell her and Conner. I learned it from my patron and thus the urgency."

Asia was still in shock and angry over my desired procedure and missed that part.

"I will be there for this. You could screw this up so easily and leave yourself disfigured! Why would you want to do that!"

That last part was a growl, and I learned my first thing about Asia. She dragon growls too. Kiba also heard that, and he showed me something. He likes those growls. No fucking wonder he's interested in Issari. Jeanne came to my rescue and diverted the anger for now.

"That equipment for the Spain base you can make that stuff fast, yeah?"

Jeanne, you are a homie.

"I can, yeah. Same with our nurse and her clinic stuff. Lady Argento this is Kiba Yuuto. He runs the charity that I mentioned."

That stopped the dragon growling and knocked Kiba out of his growl fetish. He and Asia began talking about the charity, and I inched closer to Jeanne and said in a whisper as I pulled out the anvil.

"You're the best, Jeanne. I'll get your knight started when possible. We have a place now where we will make it."

Jeanne fist pumps as I slowly make the cogitators and the Noosphere connection along with a new teleport pad and teleporter. Jeanne is gaping at the fact that this is instant travel across the globe. I whispered to Jeanne that they used this for massive spaceships, so a planet is nothing. That made Jeanne get hopeful eyes.

"No more air travel oh, how I long for that day."

There was something else in her voice. I asked her while Kiba and Asia kept hammering out details.

"Why?"

Jeanne's blue eyes went into remembrance of the reason, and she answered with her voice far away.

"It was a plane that killed my parents and brother. He freaked out when we entered the air, having never been on one before. It activated his gear. The gear activation was like an EMP, taking the plane down with everyone aboard. I was the only survivor, and that event activated my own gear. When the other reincarnated hero found me after I left the hospital, I was so scared by his explanation of the other side. I was ready to join but my voices spoke for the first time and said his goal while noble was not where I should be. He mentioned Grigori offhandedly in his rant, and the voices said it was a better option."

I understand Jeanne fully now. She took that tragedy and tried to turn it around into something better. I considered asking her if she wanted to hear them again but held back because they were probably in heaven. Jeanne continued her contemplation about her family, and she grew sadder.

"He and I would do mock Gundam fights constantly. I want my knight to be named after him. It would be a good way to remember him. I want the good things to remember and not his face of terror as the plane fell."

The silence for us was not bad, and I half smiled for Jeanne.

"I'll do what I can on that front. Don't you worry about that? After all, my second Skitarii Marshal, who took a chance on me, will get her reward."

Jeanne broke from the remembrance, and she then grinned.

"It will be awesome to surpass my ancestor. She set us up with her achievements and my family has always wanted another like her. She was the family's high point the low was losing France."

Hold up. Losing France? How can you… oh shit! I rapidly turned my eyes to Jeanne, and her face was pure amusement.

"Yes, I'm a Bourbon not even close enough for the throne but they are my ancestors too. Joan married into the Valois dynasty through a third son, who she married matrilineally. We were minor nobles of a branch house that reentered the realm line when we married into the Bourbons during the reign of the Sun King. It's kinda how I figured you were a noble. I had been trained to see that in others and you bore some of the stances of one and why I wasn't as surprised when we learned it."

Holy shit. Joan of Arc survived the Hundred Years' War! How could I have missed that? Jeanne was beaming at her well-kept secret and then noticing my face, which must show something she asked in a whisper.

"Was that not the case there?"

I shook my head no and answered in a whisper.

"She died at the hands of the English as a witch in my place."

Jeanne was in shock hearing that. She asked in that whisper.

"What else was different?"

I slowly went over a few differences between our worlds and each difference makes Jeanne have wider eyes. The fact the United States had one extra state, that Australia and New Zealand were separate countries in my place shocked the French woman. Same with Russia and their Tsars not being a thing again. She and I were so invested in that talk it took a cough to break us out of whispers. We both turned to the sound to see Kiba and Asia being the best of friends. Kiba smiled and his sin was fed well by the greed of helping more people.

"We have agreed to work together. I have a place for her clinic inside the building that I use."

The smile on Asia's face was ultra-wide. It's the same face as Issari getting friends. I don't like that the church abused her very likely social dragon self to work past what's right. However, Asia was great and viewed the future.

"I can help so many people for free and do actual charity! Oh, I'm so happy that I could sing!"

Kiba and Asia are mood kindred and I don't know what to say. Kiba opened a portal to his building, and Asia practically skipped through, followed by me. I waved at Jeanne, who waved back, and then I started the next round of building.

That building took most of the afternoon into the early evening as Asia demanded the best possible equipment for her clinic. Her passionate desire for charity makes me sweat drop as I make her the medical equipment. Asia in the background seemed to embrace the dragon entirely in that desire. When I was finished, Asia was so happy with this that I swore she would start dragon-purring. I also learned from Kiba that Gasper helped the charity by running the finances and the internet. When I raised an eyebrow at Kiba, he shrugged.

"Gasper doesn't have much to do in the building besides his games, so he volunteered to help run the books. He's the best educated of us and quickly went through Kuoh's online classes when we came up top. He's very close to a college degree in accounting."

That's impressive, and I respect Gasper for that. I did ask Kiba why Gasper was in the building and why he didn't leave it. Kiba grew sad.

"He has a near-crippling state of Agoraphobia. He can't go outside because of his childhood, and he refuses to leave safe places. The club building and the Gremory Castle are the only places he has ever considered safe. He deals with people fine if at least three of us know them."

Poor Gasper, that's still the same. Asia heard that, and she sighed softly.

"I wish my gear could heal that too. The sicknesses of the mind are just as deadly as the ones of the body. I saw so many exorcists brought to me wailing for their parents as their PTSD overwhelmed them. It is a horrible waste of life. They and ones who lose limbs are often shuttled off to special convents where they are kept out of sight and mind by the churches. The Lord should help those poor souls who have given up things for him."

My empathy hits full force as the fact that Vasco is dead returns. Kiba puts a hand on both of us and understands our feelings. The three of us are silent before Kiba turns to Asia.

"I'll pick you up when I do my stuff every day. I'll also get you keys and the address so you can work your own hours. Sound good?"

Asia smiled, her happiness here, and I committed something to it, too.

"When my company for the topside is made, I'll eagerly finance the charity. I'd rather help a charity that truly cares than one that plays like they do."

That made Kiba and Asia happy. The two blondes beam there, and Kiba says in a happy tone.

"We will take that. Gasper makes sure we do what we can with our current funds. Rias's family finances us, but it's mostly pocket change. Not because they can't, but because they don't get the topside."

Devil ignorance is amazing and Kiba silently agreed with me. Asia smiled wide and was the positive one.

"This is the start of something good. I'm glad my partners here want to improve the world. It's a blessing."

Hopefully, yes. I checked the clock and saw it was close to nine. The plan was for tomorrow's upgrades, so I disengaged from the group.

"I will be doing the procedure tomorrow, Asia. I got to get back to the house. See you then?"

Asia cutely humphed.

"I will be there. I expect a detailed explanation from a professional on the exact operation specifications."

Given that Mittelt was there to take notes for future improvements.

"My pawn will explain it. She and I came up with the procedure and the machinery for it, along with many future procedures."

Asia grew worried hearing more was coming while Kiba smiled.

"Flesh is weak after all with you. I heard what you did for your first enhancement from Rias and Akeno. I want to do that, too, because your reaction times are beyond what should be possible for a regular person without significant training. It would make me even faster than I am already with my piece."

I gave Kiba a look of you don't want it. That didn't make the blonde back down.

"Your faith demands you to try to destroy the body the Lord made us. To push it beyond his wisdom. I don't understand. Yes, self-improvement should be made, but to hate your body that much is self-destructive."

That was the old Mechcanicum. Our new one isn't going to be that. It needed to evolve for our followers and counter the Void Dragon's legacy. Ferris and Vulken are utterly right flesh endures but should be mixed with steel. Perturabo and his creed are right, too, and should reinforce that further.

"Nothing is built perfect, and to sit back and accept weaknesses is anathema to me. There is always something that can be made better about yourself. Weaknesses are a choice while strength is a necessity now and forever. We have done that from the beginning of time and will forever. Iron within and Iron without in all things."

Kiba understood fully, while Asia got a tiny bit more. She doesn't try to pick more on that.

"We can agree to disagree. This is just one part that I don't like about you. The rest of you show a person that I can get why the other three look at you with respect. I don't want you to ruin yourself with procedures that can cripple you because of this strange desire."

I looked at Asia, and her opinion was clear. This could be the first division between our faiths. I wonder what else I could have missed between universes and how different the church teachings are if Asia thinks this way. Kiba gets both sides.

"We shouldn't be fighting here. The faiths are so similar and could be one and the same if there were a few changes on both sides. Besides, fighting each other would be a waste of energy when they both want the same thing."

Asia lets go of her stubborn streak. I eyed Kiba, and he smiled like a big, goofy idiot as Asia made a concession.

"They are from what Jeanne has described of it. She is inching closer to it and has started whispering to her computer. You all really believe there are spirits in technology?"

Kiba smiled and started explaining the idea. I quickly told Asia how to get to the house before Kiba caught Asia's full attention again, allowing me to escape through a portal with the exit in the tree cluster on the property.

The walk to the house from the grove was a relaxing experience. I entered a silent house. No one was around, and I slowly made my way up the stairs to my room, preparing myself for the next day. The room was also empty of people, and I didn't get that. I heard a noise from the bathroom, and I slowly made my way over to it.

I gently opened the door and entered. The room was dark except for what looked like a few candles near the bathtub. That drew me in, and it was then wards activated behind me on the door. The door slams itself shut, and I widen my eyes in horror. Then I was suddenly shot up into the air, flying towards the bathtub, and I landed with a groan on the floor face first. I hurt and was suddenly lifted off the ground by a spell before I was dropped in the bathtub. I landed with a splash before shaking my head, trying to see clearly through my wet green hair.

I cleared the hair out of my eyes and froze, seeing what I see now on full display. It was Rias, Kuroka, Murayama, and a badly blushing Raynare. The four were either smiling seductively or, in the case of Raynare, looking like they wanted to make sure I was ok. I widened my eyes further, seeing they all except Raynare were naked. Raynare looked out of place of the four in a white bikini. Kuroka and Rias moved around the tub to where I was frozen stiff, followed by Murayama. On my left, Rias grabbed my hand before I could do anything. At the same time, Kuroka grabbed my right hand, and then they struck again. Putting them somewhere. I nosebleed badly, and the trio of nudists giggled in glee while Ray looked worried. She was about to come over to dry the blood when Murayama patted Raynare.

"That means he likes this, Ray. Don't you want to spoil your king? That is what you want, right?"

They had planned this perfectly as Raynare nodded cutely.

"Yes, but why does he like that?"

Kuroka wrapped a tail around my arm and kept it there. My queen smiled wide, showing her fangs for Raynare.

"Everyone has a favorite thing, Ray. This is his nya. Isn't that right, my wonderful king and mate?"

Rias tightened her grip on my other arm and smiled herself.

"It is his favorite. He watches it when we duel. It's well hidden, but I caught the looks several times. My hero who saved me now gets his well-deserved reward."

Murayama gets her own nosebleed when a tail comes her way, and she draws herself closer to me in the middle.

"My noble king, who has never wanted a reward for what he does, can now have the three of us tonight."

I am completely still but the nosebleed gets worse as I catch sight of something on Murayama. My body betrayed me, and that sight got the three smiling wider. They encircled me, each promising me a fun night with yellow, sea-green, and brown eyes, all showing depraved ideas. Raynare seemed to understand now, and inched closer too. I was in full shock, and Koriel unhelpfully said a joke from inside me.

"What was the phrase? Oh yes, you all will bang ok. Just make sure to block me out thank you very much flesh bag."

The three instigators closed in with wide smiles for this. Before Rias gently pulled me in for a deep kiss. That set the tone for the next few hours, which was a storm of low-tier debauchery between the four of us while Raynare watched everything in fascination. The last thing I remember from that night was three pleased grinning faces and one other staring down at me before snuggling into my sides.

The next morning, I woke to a strange feeling around me. I blinked rapidly to get the sleep gone and widened my eyes seeing the sight. Four people hugged me tightly. All naked except for a softly snoring Raynare in a blue nightshirt and pants sleeping on my chest. I remember last night and don't know what to say about this. I felt a pair of lips on my neck from the right. I looked that way to see a wide-awake Rias looking at me with pure love. Her sea green eyes stared into mine, and she whispered to me while cuddling into my right.

"We all wanted to do that. You deserve to be spoiled for everything you have done for us. We know we can't talk you out of this, and we wanted you to have this memory as you were on the table. Ravel almost joined us last night, but she wants a bit more time for the two of you. She did give us her blessing here, and Ray wanted to learn. Please don't hate us for our plan."

I kissed her cheek while pulling Rias closer.

"I love you and Roka. I think I can love the rest of this, too. Your plan was cunning, and everything was well placed but please don't pressure Ray into something she is not ready for. She is new to this, and I don't want her to get the wrong ideas. I appreciate you all being worried about me on the table. It won't be as bad with the adjustments that Mittelt and I made. I'll also have a trained doctor there, too."

Rias closed her eyes, relieved. She and I are quickly joined by a very happy third on Rias's other side.

"Rias and I buried our feud. We both know you hated that and to be fair, I did too after getting to know you properly, Rias. I just wanted to show the man I love that he has me, too. They agreed to what I wanted. To marry you in front of my clan and let them know it's you and the future I want and not them in the past. I love you, Gregor."

Murayama closed the distance at the end, and that was the first kiss between the two of us. Fireworks were there, too and when we detached, I said it back.

"I love you too, Mura. I am beyond lucky to have a knight of honor love an idiot like me."

Murayama smiled wide. Rias smiled happily, too.

"I'm sorry about how we first met Murayama. We approved everyone for this except for Koneko and Xenovia. Koneko is your decision while Xenovia knows that it will be a while before we can agree on her. We wanted this settled before you went under. Ravel and Koneko spent last night trying to iron out their differences if she does get your approval. Ravel agrees with you now. There should be no hierarchy because of what Riser did to them with Yunabella. We have to remain professional outside it and never become what they became."

That makes me smile. I don't ever want what Riser had. We were joined by our fourth sleepyhead, who was purring.

"I got to choose our name, nya. You will like it, nya."

I turned to see Kuroka looking at me in pure love. I raised an eyebrow in question before she smiled wide.

"The Red-Queens of Mars. Only fair that the King of Mars has his Queens nya."

That name brought a massive smile to my face as the three awake people hugged me tighter. Then Rias got up off the bed and started her routine. Murayama gave me a second kiss before joining the redhead. Kuroka nestled her head on my shoulder before she purrs louder. I kissed her on her hair and hugged her to my side.

"Purr away my pain this day and every other day. I love the name and I'll be your first subscriber on DevilTube. You are starting a very dangerous thing, you know. I would watch the regular one almost daily."

I got a big smile before I got a kiss. When it ended, Kuroka got up from the bed and went off to join the others, leaving me and a cutely snoring Raynare.

Raynare started waking up and she upon looking at me blinked rapidly before she focused on something. Her eyes went wide in ultra fascination. I tried to figure out what she was looking at, and then I looked down. I don't have a shirt. Raynare inches towards me and then poked my stomach on a six-pack I am getting. Raynare was utterly fascinated with them, and she finally said something.

"I understand now."

I snorted, and Raynare looked up from the muscles reluctantly before ducking her head in shame. I took her hand, which got her looking up at me again.

"You're welcome to like whatever you want, Ray. If muscles are your thing, then you won't find any condemnation from me."

Raynare looked back at the muscles, and they completely entranced her. She slowly moved a hand to my stomach and then poked me again. Before her face adopted a new thing for her. It's lust as she got closer to me here, and once she was close enough, she looked up from my muscles and considered something before diving in for her own kiss. I recognize that it was her first. Raynare pulled back from the kiss, and she seemed even happier now. She then skipped off towards the bathroom. Her pure happiness made me get another brick. I waited for the shower, and while doing that, I thanked the Machine God for giving me them. He just said that it was me and not him. He however, takes the extra faith there. He offered to numb the pain, but I said no. He just shrugged and then went back to doing other things.

By the time I finished showering and dressing in shorts and a very short-sleeved shirt, it was almost nine. My four, all in casual clothes, led me to the medical ward where Mittelt was waiting with Ravel and Shirone. Ravel asked Mittelt a few questions about the machines dressed in a proper scientific suit of white, while Shirone glared at the machines like they were pure evil. She hissed at them, and Ravel rolled her eyes.

"He will do it whether we like it or not. Your prince will be fine and stronger after this is over."

That made Shirone stop hissing at the machines and instead purrs. Ravel looked over her shoulder, and she saw us. There was jealousy for a second on her face before she instantly switched to love. She turned to us and that told Mittelt I was here. My pawn turned towards me, and she rolled her eyes, seeing everyone else.

"Fun night for you."

I just flipped off my pawn, which made her chuckle with Ravel and the others, not Shirone. The white cat was not pleased by that display glaring at me for being improper. I sent her a quick wink which got the white cat beaming. Mittelt looked at the clock, and it struck the time exactly when Asia arrived still in her nurse get up. Her eyes looked at the assembled people in surprise, and then she saw Mittelt before approaching the shorter woman. Then, she began the barrage of questions about the procedure. Mittelt answered all of them as I went to the bed to start my self-torture. Ravel, Raynare, and Shirone on my left. Kuroka, Rias, and Murayama on my right. Asia was finally done asking questions ten minutes later, but she was still uneasy about this. Mittelt finished strapping me down on the crescent moon-shaped bed with a single beam stretching over it and several openings. She was about to start when the door opened, and Xenovia entered.

She looked at me on the bed and went pale white before she bulldozed her way to us, bumping past Asia and sitting on the right side. She looked ready to grab my hand. She started to move that way, and Raynare stepped in.

"We can't touch him, sibling. Be here, yes, touch no."

Xenovia looked ready to fight that. However, psykers being psykers made Xenovia not do the deed.

I rolled my eyes and told her while preparing.

"Ray, please share your meditation books and other things to help her with before you go."

Ravel interrupted the response Xenovia was about to make.

"Raynare explained to us why you're like this, and while I am sympathetic, I am not sure about you. You can stay for this and consider it your first test from us."

Xenovia saw more lines again, sending Raynare an incredibly thankful look while nodding at Ravel's demand. She was the picture of obedience there. Mittelt sighed and snarked.

"Anyone else coming, or can I start this?"

When no one objected or came in, Mittelt started the procedure, tapping a few buttons on the console at the foot of the bed while Asia watched with hawk precision. A rebreather came down from the roof of the bed and was attached to my face before beginning to pump muscle relaxers and pain medication into me. I relaxed, aided by Raynare extending her wings and pouring energy into the room.

Ten minutes later, several mechadendrites with needles came out of the sides of the bed, making Asia gape. They moved towards me, controlled by Mittelt using a holographic display, and they were placed at specific points. I feel a needle below me, ready to poke where my spine base was through a hole on the bottom of the bed. Mittelt let Asia look at the display before a reluctant nod was given, and the first needle poked into the first section. Deep into my bones, I froze as the denser was applied. Then I spasm once. Then, twice more despite the medication. Everyone was worried there, and I vaguely heard Mittelt's voice.

"This is better than my projections of four spasms at the beginning one less is good."

I want to scream as my bones continue to grow denser, and it's only the loving faces of my five, Shirone and Xenovia, that keep me from doing it. Asia saw the pain and immediately asked Mittelt several questions I couldn't hear. I focused on them alone, which helped when the second needle poked the next bone.

The pokes continued and then escalated when it was time for muscles. I hurt so badly from the constant aches of both. My pain from the bones continued growing and amplified. The faces of my five, Shirone and even Xenovia, helped. Xenovia began singing a lullaby in Italian for me. She was attempting something with her psyker nature. As the energy hit me it reduced the pain a bit. The others looked at Xenovia with shock as Raynare explained a little to them of what she was doing. Despite that lullaby, my pain climbed higher and grew worse as the pokes continued. I finally let out a small scream, this time muffled by the rebreather. Mittelt jotted down a few notes while Asia looked disturbed by this. My five just promised me with eyes that they would spoil me after I was off this bed. Shirone whispered in my ear a promise.

"My strong senpai and mate will get all the purrs he wants, nya. My handsome strong mate who protects nya. His snow cat will love him forever no matter what nya."

Her doodle of us flashed to me again. She and I wanted the same thing as those five kids in that doodle came to life for me. They with my hair and Shirone's beautiful yellow eyes. That realization and her eyes now was a thunder hammer to the final wall of acceptance. It cracked further as I saw the pure love in Shirone's yellow eyes for me. That was the second swing that broke the final wall completely.

I fully accepted Shirone at that moment as I desperately wanted purrs to dull this horrible pain. Shirone saw that silent plea in my eyes and started the purrs with Kuroka. That helped me bite back the next wave of screams from the next poke. Asia had been taking notes steadily as, after two hours of being worried, she had finally grudgingly admitted that Mittelt and I had known what we were doing with the machine. The needles poked again at the next point, and I screamed again despite purrs and Raynare's wings giving off energy. It was nowhere near the first enhancement but I want it to end already. My now six and Xenovia are the only things that I see as I lay there.

This would continue for another three hours of screams to aches. It hurt so much, and when it finally ended, I wept tears of relief for this being over. The black encroached slowly as I finally prepared to pass out from the pain. Purrs and now the feeling of hands holding mine are the last things I felt before the black engulfed my world.

A body slumped to the earthy floor. Then two more noises back to back as two more bodies fell in quick succession after a second. The kills had been fast, and the foes were the regular run-of-the-mill things you could run into here in this jungle. A figure moved past the bodies and towards an old and decrepit structure with many mossy plants covering it. The single figure sighed, seeing the state of the structure, and started touching several small things on the decrepit structure. Then slowly, the thing whined to life. Oh, how she wished that they could maintain things better. Their civilization had indeed fallen into hard times, and even once well-understood, things were slowly beginning to fade from memory. She mentally calculated that she had several dozen more stops to make before getting to the final one on the jump to her target.

Her vehicle was now there and waiting, hidden at the end point. She hoped that the journey would not be as rough as her mentor suggested it might be. Then she froze as something happened that was a small step towards a nexus of fate. The woman worried seeing what that nexus was starting to look like. Especially with how much ground she still had to cover. She worried about what his possible ascension could mean. That thought spurred her on through to the next stop as the device whined and fell silent.